The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that Wolverine Packing Co. is recalling over 167,000 pounds of fresh and frozen ground beef due to potential E. coli contamination, after 15 reported illnesses in Minnesota. The contaminated beef, which was distributed nationwide to restaurants, has prompted urgent warnings for consumers and restaurant operators to discard the affected products, with symptoms of E. coli including diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever typically appearing 2-8 days after consumption. Consumers are advised to verify product labels for safety and adhere to proper cooking practices to reduce health risks.